Floor construction



May .2 l

0 I mami ff R. yHOFEWELI.

FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed oct. 28, 1937 s sheets-sheet 1 .BeBa/Q7' .f1/OPE, WELL.l l*

May 2, 1939- R. Hopi-:WELL 2,156,588

FLOOR CONSTRUCTION A Filed om. 28, 1957 5 sheets-sheet 2 l l WA 22) V Z y J7 F/G.7. l l w JL 35 35 21 ,ULI U ai 22)' E3 n E /i 7l 4May 2, 1939. R. Hlo'PE'wl-:LL 2,156,588

FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. '28, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 HHH /N z/EN 70 le @05E/7- J/op: WELL,

5f I j* "H56,

Patented May 2, 1939 UNIT FTENT OFFICE Application October 28, 1937, Serial ANo. 171,577 In Great Britain November 2, 1936 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in iioors and provides an improved construction o-f flooring which obviates the need for shuttering or formwo-rk during the construction of the oo-r, which is preferably composed throughout of lireproof materials.

The improved floor according to the invention may be briefly stated to comprise parallelly disposed I joists whereof the lower flange of each joist is formed with a ridge or the like on each side of the web', and precast filler blocks which span the distance between the ridges of adjacent parallel joists and which are formed with steppedback ends that lie adjacent the extremities of the joist flanges, one or each stepped back portion having a recess to enable the block to be tilted for positioning it between the ridges.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and carried into eiect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

Figure 1 shows a part of an improved licor according to the invention, in cross section, and ernbodying one form of ller block, v

Figure 2 illustrates the metal reinforcing network incorporated in the floorrof Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a similar cross section to Figure l, but shows the inclusion of a metal channel running between the longitudinal sides of the filler blocks laid side by side.

Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line IV-IV of Figure 3 to show the method of interlocking adjacent side by side filler blocks,

Figure 5 shows an alternative arrangement of they reinforcing network,

Figure 6 shows a modified form of filler block with an interconnecting fillet between longitudinally aligned blocks,

Figure 7 is a layout of a floor according to the invention incorporating a stairwell,

Figure 8 is a perspective exploded view of the securing block which secures crossing joists together at the stairwell,

Figure 9 is a cross section on the line IX-IX of Figure 7, and shows the securing block in position,

Figure 10 is a View looking in the direction of the arrow X in Figure 9,

Figure l1 is a section on the line XII-XI of Figure '7 and shows the manner in which the joist mounting blocks at the stairwell opening are secured to the top flange of the I joist eX- tending along one side o-f the opening,

Figure l2 is a detail perspective- View of the intermediate joist mounting block, and Figure 13 is a similar View of the corner post mounting block,

Figure '14 is a detail of the means employed for securing the rod which holds the longitudinal joists of the door spaced apart in parallel relation at the ends.

The improved floor comprises parallelly arranged I jo-ists I, the lower flange 2 of each of whichV projects beyond the upper flange 3, and is provided with two ridges 4 symmetrically disposed one on each side of the web' of the joist. Pairs of the joists I support between them filler blocks 5 (which may be hollow as shown). The blocks 5 are of a length less than the distance between the webs of the I joists but greater than the distance between the lower flanges 3 thereof so that they span the distance between the ridges I as shown, the ridges, when the blocks are in position, engaging the ends of the blocks to prevent endwise movement. thereof. The blocks have their ends stepped back as at 6 so that the inner wall of the `stepped back portion lies adjacent the extremities (and may engage them) of the `loweriianges 2 of the joists. At one end the stepped back portion is provided with a recess I, whilst the other end has a lower part 8 which extends under the lower flange of the adjacent joist to a point beyond the vertical centre of the joist web.

In order to position the block, it is tilted from below so that the recess 'I in one end engages over the reduced portion of the lower ange 2 of the left hand I joist I, and the block is then moved endwise to cause the opposite end to slide over the reduced portion of the lower flange of the right hand I joist, whereby the opposite end faces of the block are located between and engage the ridges 4 of the two joists. Plastic filling material 9 is inserted in the spaces between longitudinally aligned blocks, the recesses 'I forming keys.

The blocks are covered by an upper layer I0 of plastic filling material, such as concrete, this material entering into the spaces I I between the ends of the ller block and the webs of the joists.

Embodied in the upper layer III is a metal reinforcing network IZ which may have any suitable forrn, such as that shown in Figure 2, or that in Figure 5, and this network has portions I3 which engage, preferably clip round as shown in Figures 1 and 2; the upper flanges 3 of the I joists to constitute a bracing arrangement to the whole iioor.

Aslan additional means of locating the blocks,

metal spacing members may be included as described in the aforesaid application, these members being formed by down-turned limbs of the reinforcing network which are substantially vertically disposed to abut the end faces of the blocks and which have the spacing bridge pieces resting on the top of the ridge 4.

In Figure 6 there are shown filler blocks which instead of having the lower projecting tongue 8 at one end, are formed with recesses I4 similar to I, and between longitudinally aligned blocks a terracotta or other fillet I5, with ends I6 shaped substantially as shown to engage the recess I4, is slid transversely, thereby to interlock the blocks, a plastic filler I1 being introduced between the fillet and the ends of the blocks.

To facilitate positioning of the blocks, and also provide a better key for the plastic filler, the blocks with the tongues 8 may have these tongues chamfered at the ends as shown in Figure 3. The reduced portions of the joist flanges may also be chamfered to simplify the block positioning, and for the same purpose chamfering of the ends of the block in Figure 6 is provided.

In Figure 4 a method of interlocking blocks laid side by side is shown, wherein the longitudinal sides of the blocks are provided with complementary interlocking portions I8 and I8. In this flgure and in Figure 3, these sides of the blocks are also shaped to form longitudinal recesses in which are housed metal channels 20 providing greater strength in the finished floor.

The ridges 4 of the I jcists also serve to locate a device employed for securing two crossing joists together, such as occurs where a series of longitudinal joists terminate at a stairwell opening and require to be secured to a transverse post or girder which forms a boundary for said opening. Figure '7 shows a floor layout according to the invention with a stairwell opening 2l formed by ridged longitudinal joists and bounded by transverse girders 22, which are secured to the longitudinal joists by devices generally designated' 23 in Figure '7 and shown in detail in Figures 8, 9 and 10. Each device 23 consists of a U- shaped block 24 interiorly formed as at 25 to slide over the end of a longitudinal joist and t the top flange 3 thereof. The side wings or legs 26 of the block rest against the ridges 4 as shown in Figure 9, and on them are mounted clip plates 21 located on side studs 28 of the wings. The hooks 29 of the clip plates 21 engage under the top flange of a transverse girder 22 and have laterally projecting pins 3G which also come under this top flange as will be seen in Figure 10. The stems ofthe hooks engage in recesses 3I in the reduced portions of the bottom flange of the longitudinal joist to locate the clip plates in position.

At one end of the block 24 there is formed another hook 24a which clips under the top flange of the transverse joist but on the opposite side to` the clip plates as will be clearly seen in Figure l0. ri'hus, the block is securely held in position.

These securing blocks serve also for mounting hand rail or newel posts, being provided where necessary with upstanding screwed studs 32 on to which the posts are screwed.

To hold the longitudinal joists transversely spaced, there are provided rods 33 which screw on to lateral screw studs 34 on the securing blocks 24.

Along the sides of the stairwell opening 2| are rods 35 which serve inter alia to space the transverse joists 22 and give increased rigidity to the floor structure. In the arrangement shown in Figure '7, the right hand rod 35 is embedded in a side wall 36, being secured at the ends by suitable brackets 3l. The opposite rod 35 is in several parts which serve to hold in spaced relation blocks 38 for mounting hand rail or like parts along the side of the opening 2|.

The blocks 38 are of the form shown in Figures l2 and 13 for insertion under the top flange 3 of the longitudinal joist running along the side of the opening 2l. At the corner 39 they are recessed to fit the under face of the top flange, and they are secured in position by a hooked plate 48 the hook of which clips under the opposite side of the top flange as will be seen in Figure ll, the plate being xed to the block by nuts and bolts 4I, of which the bolts pass through holes 42 in the top plate of the block 38. Projecting from the sides of the blocks 38 are screwed studs 43 for receiving the ends of the parts of the left hand rod 35. In Figure l2 these screwed studs 43 project from opposite ends, the block there shown being an intermediate one, whilst in Figure 13 one of the studs projects from the longitudinal side of the block for receiving the end of the transverse spacing rods 35; this block is therefore designated a corner block.

The hand rail posts are fixed into the hooked plates 48 as at 44, Figure 7.

Finally, there may be incorporated in the improved floor, spacing rods 45 at the ends of the longitudinal joists. As will be seen more clearly in Figure 14, these rods are secured to the joists by means of plates 46 which are held spaced from the joists by tubes 4'! projecting from each side of the joist web and mounted on a through transverse pin 48. The plates 46 are clamped by nuts 4S screwed on to the ends of the pin 48.

The components incorporated in the floor according to the invention are designed on economical manufacturing lines and with a view to easy assembly into a rigid structure.

I claim:

l. In a floor, a pair of spaced parallel I-joists each including a web and a bottom flange, and a pre-cast filler block supported at its ends upon and spanning the space between said joists, said filler block having end portions resting upon the bottom flanges of the joists and a bottom portion extending below said joist flanges, end shoulders on said bottom portion substantially abutting the free edges of the joist bottom flanges, said filler block further having at least at one end thereof a recess opening through the related shoulder at a point below the portion of the shoulder which substantially abuts the free edge of the joist bottom flange, said recess being of a size to accommodate the related joist bottom flange during mounting of the flller block between the joists thus to facilitate such mounting.

2. In a floor, a pair of spaced I-joists each including a webl and a bottom flange, and a precast ller block supported at its ends upon and spanning the space between said joists, the upper portions of the bottom flanges of said joists being stepped to provide marginal portions of reduced thickness and shoulders at the inner ends of said reduced thickness marginal portions, said filler block having end portions resting upon the reduced thickness marginal portions of said joists, the end faces of said end portions substantially abutting said shoulders, said filler block having end shoulders below its said end portions substantially abutting the free edges of the reduced thickness marginal portions of the joist bottom anges, at least one ofthe end shoulders of said block extendingl below the related joist bottom flange, said block having a recess opening through its said last mentioned end shoulder at a point below the portion of said shoulder which substantially abuts the free edge of the reduced thickness marginal portion of the joist bottom flange, said recess being of a size to accommodate the reduced thickness marginal portion of the related joist bottom flange during mounting of the ller block between the joists to facilitate such mounting'.

3. In a iloor, spaced parallel I-joists each including a web and a bottom flange, and a precast ller block supported at its ends upon and spanningthe space between said joists, said ller block having end portions resting upon the bottom anges of said joists, end shoulders on said block substantially abutting the free edgesl of the flanges of said joists, a lip at one end of said block underlying the bottom flange ofthe related joist, the shoulder at the other end of the block extending below the bottom ange of the related joist, said block having a recess opening through the shoulder at the last mentioned end thereof at a point below the portion of said shoulder which substantially abuts the free edge of the bottom flange of the related joist, said recess being of a size to accommodate the related joist bottom ange during mounting of the block between the joists thus to facilitate such mounting.

4. In a floor as set forth in claim 1, a top` recess in the block extending from end to end thereof, and a metal channel element disposed in said recess and seated at its ends on the bottom anges of the I-joists.

5. In a floor as set forth in claim 1, a topi recess in the block extending from end to end thereof and opening through one side edge of the block, an adjacent block having a top lip extending into said recess, and a metal channel. element disposed in said recess and seated at its ends on the bottom flanges of the I-joists.

ROBERT HOPEWELL. 

